Sorting machine for records



Oct. 7, 1941. M MAUL y 2,258,120

SORTING MACHINE FOR RECORDS Filed May 20, 1939 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Fig.4`

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SORTING MACHINE FOR RECORDS Filed May 20, 1939 Fig.5

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SORTING MACHINE FOR RECORDS 'L Filed May 20, 1959 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 M.MAUL soRTING MACHINE FOR RECORDS AOct. 7, 1941.

4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed May 2o, 1959 Patented oet 1, 194i Y UNITED STATESPATENT -oEFlcE zsssszo SOBTING MACHINE FOR RECORDS m .mybe'bfwidi PY'`indicatioi' islor bylangv other index marks.

. Theeardszm jt'usuauybe- Vrted according to'.

numbers a .plurality of places and in order to sort'the cardsthe propersequence, it is necessary the cards through the machine once. foreachplace ofthe numbers, provided there are/a number of sorting pockets inthe wrnrf" 'ls' f upon thefcards.- ...The symbols' riorations or bygraphical v'to improved means A causing an automaticlcolumnzchange totheitthe cards have been accordrinsito :one column.

. important object of the invention is also to -provide means forselecting the range of -sort- -ing,columns, said means being adapted to'stop machine: corresponding to the numerals to be assorted in a singlerun. It for instance cards .--shall be Ysorted according to a perforatedrecord eld having three columns, i. e. columns adapted `to representnumbers up to 999, the analyzing means inthe sorting machine are atiirst adjusted to the units column and in the first sorting run thecards are assorted according to this column into the ten pockets or themachine corresponding to the ten numerals 0 to 9. (Provided the zerosare also punched as it is usual practice.) The card stacks in thepocketsare then laid above each other in the proper'sequence and areagain put The analyzing means must now be adjusted to into themagazine.`

the machine automatica'allyv if the last column indicated by saidadjustable. means has been sorted.

A further object lolf the invention is 'to provide a machine withautomatic column change, wherein the cards run through the machine withthe columns transverse to the feeding direction; this arrangement'lpermits a very simple selection of the card columns to be sorted andvery simple means for causingjan automatic column change, so that nomechanical movement of the analyzing means is necessary atall.

A further object of the invention is to provide a sorting machine withautomatic column change wherein the symbols in one column are sorted insive sorting runs the symbols are assorted in the sequence indicated bytheir numeral value.b

Another object of the invention is to provide I `a sorting machine withautomatic column change,

the tens column and in the second sorting. run

the cards will be distributed into the diierent pockets in accordancewith their periorations in the tens column. The cards are then againremoved from the sorting pockets, laid above each other in the magazinein the proper order, and in the third sorting run the cards aredistributed into the ten pockets in accordance with their .wherein thecards are analyzed while they are fed withthecolumns transverse to thefeeding perforations in the hundreds column. Ii' then the cards areagain removed from the pockets and the stacks put above each other inthe proper sequence, the cards are all in the proper order from 0 to999.

In the method of sorting in the machine referred to, it is necessary toadjust the analyzing means after the sorting of each column manually tothe next sorting column. It is now in the direction of furthermechanization of sorting by machinery, to cause an automatic adjustmentof the analyzing means to the next card column as soon as the cards aresorted according to one column. A machine having provisions therefor isalready indicated in German P atent 351,030, wherein an automatic columnchange ofthe analyzing means is effected by means of a shift card or ashift plate, added at the end of the card stack.

It is now the main'aim ofthe present invention direction and wherein thedifferent characters are assorted in a plurality of sorting runs..y

Another important. object of the invention is to provide a machine ofthe type indicated, wherein the cards are analyzed while they are inuninterrupted motion past the analyzing means.

Still another object of the invention is to provide in a machine whereinthe characters are assorted in a pluralityof sorting runs, under thecontrol of a symbol selector means for automatically shifting the columnselecting means to the next record column if said symbol selector passesfrom the last symbol selection position to the iirst symbol selectionposition.

Another object of the invention is to provide adjustable means forindicating the rst column to be sorted and for indicating the lastcolumn to be sorted, and another object of the invention is to providemeans for indicating the column to which the analyzing means are justrendered responsive.

Further objects and advantages willy be seen lfrom the accompanyingdrawings and the following specification which refers to a preferredembodiment of the invention:

Fig. 1 is a'record card in which thecolumns v are provided for "analysistransverse to the columns."

Fig. 2 is the key according to which the hole combinations are providedin Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a front-view of the machine, partially in section.

Fig. 4 is a section through the machine according to line 4-4 of Fig. 3,but showing the indicating means in a position differing from theirposition in Fig. 3.

Fis. 5 is a section through the machine according to line 5 5 of Eg. 3.

Fig. 6 is the wiring diagram of the machine.

The preferred embodiment described herein relates to a machine havingonly two pockets or compartments; the cards are sorted in this machinein a plurality of sorting runs as has already been indicated. In thenrst sorting run all cards having a 0-perforation are assorted andguided into the assorting compartment A, while all other cards are fedto the rest card or reject compartment R. 'I'he selection of the 0-perforations is caused by a symbol selector. At the end of the card stackthe shift card will shift the symbol selector from the 0 to the1position. While the symbols are assorted the opl erator can again putthe cards from the rest card pocket into the magazine and the cards in.the assorting compartment can be left. If the rest cards run now againthrough the machine, the cards having a 1designation in the selectedcolumn are'assorted and guided upon the cards having a 0designation. Theshift card will then again cause shifting of the symbol selector whichwill now be adjusted to the 2position. The respective column will beassorted and the operations will continue until all cards are assortedin the Apocket and they are then in the proper sequence from 0 to 9"above each other. I

After the last run the shift card will again cause shifting of thesymbol selector and the latter will be moved from the 9 to the 0-position. From this movement is now derived the shifting of theanalyzing means to make the same responsive to the next card column. Theoperator will put the cards from the assorting pocket into the magazineand above these cards the cards from the RF-pocket, and thesame'operations will now take place as before described with the onlydifference that the cards are now sorted according to the next Icolumn.The iirst column to be sorted is adjusted by an indicator and the lastcolumn to be assorted may also be selected by an indicator and theseindicators determine the range of columns to be sorted, and if the lastcolumn selected by the indicator has been sorted the machine willautomatically stop. In order to provide a very simple column selectionmechanism which does'not require the movement of the analyzing means forthe purpose of column selection, in the present invention the columnsare fed transverse to the feeding direction through the machine. Theanalyzing means are stationary and are rendered electrically responsiveto the desired record column. Due to this provision itis only necessaryto provide time differential responsive` 'controlling means for saidanalyzing means which controlling means are under the supervision ofsaid symbol selector.

The preferred embodiment will now be described more in detail:

The motor II drives the card feedrknife I2 which feeds the card from themagazine to the feeding rollers I3 the cards are at rst fed past theanalyzing brushes IIIand then to the sorting f pockets. If the selectedsymbol is present the sorting magnet Il will attract the sorting bladeIl and thus the selected cards will be fed into the assorting pocket A,while all remaining cards are fed to the rest card pocket R, from wherethey are again inserted into the magazine. On the front wall of themachine there is provided a hand wheel 3|, having an indicator 53, whichmay be adjusted to any of the columns I to I5, indicated on thegraduation of the front wall of the machine. The indicator 53 isadjustable by the hand wheel 3l to the column according to which sortingshall take place, Below the hand wheel 3l there is rotatably mounted anadjustable ring 18, having an indicator 4I. This indicator is manuallyadjustable to the last column to which sorting shall take place. Sincein sorting according to numerals at first the column having the lowestdenominational place must be sorted, in Fig. 3 the indicator 53 is forinstance adjusted to column Il and the indicator 4I is adjusted tocolumn 1. I'his means that sorting is desired from column I4 to column 1inclusive.

Since the card has two record decks, each having 15 columns, the desiredrecord deck must be manually selected before sorting of the cards. Inorder to'permit such deck selection the brush holder I6 (Fig. 4) isadjustable on the bar I1 in any one of two different positionscorresponding to the two decks of the card.

On the front wall of the machine (Figs. 3 and 5) there are furtherindicating means provided to indicate the symbol vwhich is justselected. On the shaft 25 there is-fast a numeral wheel 41 indicatingthe numerals which can be sorted in the different sorting runs and abovethe numeral wheel there is a cover 46 having a window, so that only oneof the numerals on said numeral wheel is visible. In the home positionof the machine the numeral 0 is adjusted as is shown in Fig. 3.

The mechanical construction of the machine may be clearly seen from thedrawings. Driven by a gearconnection derived from the card feed,

there is a gear 35 loosely mounted on shaft 30,

and said gear carries an insulatingly mounted bridge contact 3l; thelatter rotates synchronously with the passage of the card columns pastthe analyzing means. 'I'he bridge contact 34 slides between the contactring 33, and between the face of a wheel 39; the latter is fast upon theshaft 30 and secured in its position by means of the ball 1I engaginginto notches of said wheel. A current supply ball 12 is stationarllyprovided on the machine and slides on a metal ring 32 which isinsulatingly embedded on the circumference of wheel 33 and extends witha projection (seen in Fig. 4) corresponding to one columnary position tothe front face of wheel 33. This conducting projection is thereforeadjustable in accordance with the position of shaft 30 to any one of therecord columns. Accordingly, the bridging contact 3l can only establisha connection between the contact ring 33 and the contact projection ofring 32 if a certain column passes on the analyzing brushes, said columnbeing determined by the adjustment of hand wheel 3| which is also faston the shaft 30. It will be seen that the means just described serve forthe column selection.

Provision has now been made to stop the machine if all columns have beensorted. Fast on accento the machine frame there is an insulating ring16. The same carries a contact ring 44. Loose upon the vring 16 there isthe before mentioned ring 18, which is manually adjustable and securedin its position by a ball 15. The ring 18 carries the metal ring 49which is interrupted on one place (corresponding to a columnaryposition) by theinsulating piece 42. The bridging contact balls 43 willalways connect the contact ring 44 with the contact ring 48, but in oneposition, namely if the balls 43 encounter the insu-` lating piece 42,this connection will be interrupted. The contact balls 43 are mounted inthe hand wheel 3|, as is shown in Fig. 4. Current is supplied to ring 40by a contact ball over supply line 5 I On the shaft 25 (Fig. 5) thereisprovided the symbol selector. Current supply takes place throughcontact ring 28 fast in the stationary insulating sleeve ||0. Theinsulating part 82 which is fast on the shaft 25 carries the bridgingcontact balls 2| which connect ln each position of the shaft the contactring 20 to one of the contact pins 8|a to which the translator lines 8|in the present instance is of well known construction and not shown indetail in the drawings. The hole combination controls the-translatormagnets 60 (Fig. 6) and the latter will raise the coordinatedcontrolling bars 6|, thus selecting only one of the lines 8|, namely theline coordinated to the controlling hole combination. After eachanalysis the bars 6| are again restored to home position illustrated inFig. 6 by means of a cam controlled bar 63. The translator includes alsoa translator line 8|--S.v This line is selected by the combination S,indicated in Fig. 2.

In the present instance the shift card is so provided that each columnbears the combination S, indicated in Fig. 2. If therefore the shiftcard arrives, no matter which column is selected for sorting, the line8|S will be rendered responsive and will actuate the shift magnet 23 'sothat the symbol selector will be shifted to the next symbol by means ofpawl 85 and ratchet 86, the latter being fast upon shaft 25.

The operation will now be explained in connection with the wiringdiagram of the machine shown in Fig. 6.

The cards are fed past the analyzing brushes I9. The contact plate 9| isconnected in the usual manner over card lever contact 9a and contact 93to the positive line 10. 'I'he contact 83 is closed only while the cardis under the brushes I0. From the brushes I0 lead lines to thetranslator magnets 68 and from their leads a common line 3B to thecontact piece 32 (projection 32 in Fig. 4). The contact piece 32 isadjusted by the hand wheel 3| to the desired'column. The bridge contact34, rotating synchronously with the passage of the columns past thebrushes, will therefore connect in the moment in which the desiredcolumn passes under the brushes the contact piece 32 to the stationaryring 33, from which leads a line 31 to the negative line 80.

If the combination is analyzed, the translator magnets 6|! will adjustthe controlling bars 6| and will connect the line 62 to the seelctedline 8|. The selected line may become only responsive if the bridgecontact 2| is in the position in which the latter connects the selectedtranslator line over commutator ring 28 and line 95 to the sortingmagnet I5. It will readily be seen that all cards havingthe combinationdetermined by the adjustment of the symbol selector will be assorted. Ifthen the shift card follows at the end of the card stack, the line 8|-Swill be selected 'and will energize magnet 23, thereby causing shiftingof the symbol selector to the next symbol. The operations will continueas has already been described in the introduction.

As soon as the symbol selector is shifted from the 9 to the 0position,the bridge contacts 83 will close the contacts 26, thus establishingcurrent circuit over lines 98, 99, contacts 28, line |90 to the columnchange magnet 21 and over switch 28, which is in closed position ifautomatic column change is desired, to the line 89. The magnet 21 willshift by means of ratchet wheel 29 (see also Fig. 4) the shaft 39 forone column, thus positioning the contact piece 32 for the next columnand also shifting the bridge contacts 43 from the column position 14 tothe column position "13". The cards removed from the assorting pocketand the rest card pocket are again inserted into the magazine and arenow assorted according to the next column. The same operations asalready explained will continue and each time the symbols are assortedaccording to one column, the shaft 38 is moved for one step andtherewith the bridge contact 43 approaches the insulating piece 42. Ifthe column 7 has been assorted, the bridge contact 42 will again bemoved under the control of the shift card to the next column, but nowthe current circuit of the motor relays leading overline 59, contactring 44, bridge contact 43, contact ring 40, line 5| and stop contact 52will be interrupted at 42 and the machine will stop.

The motor relay 65 is connected from line 98 over line 89 and startcontact 58 to the negative line 80. If the motor relay is energized bydepression of start key 59, it closes its associated contacts 81 and 88.The contact 81 establishes a circuit from the relay over line 59, theabove described column limitation device for stopping the machine, line5| and contact 52, thus keeping the relay 65 energized even if contact50 opens again. The contact 88 will therefore also remain closed and themotor will remain in operation until the motor relay will be interruptedautomatically in the above 'described manner at the insulating piece 42.If it is desired to stop the operation of the machine manually, the stopcontact 52 may be opened.

1f the machine shall be used without automatic column change, the switch28 must be opened. If it is desired to adjust the symbol selector to anyposition in order to assort any desired symbol, by repeated depressionof key 24 the symbol selector can be shifted by means of the shiftmagnet 23 to any desired column.

While there has been shown and described and pointed out the fundamentalnovel features of tion.

represented, the cards being fed through the machine with the columnstransverse to the feeding direction, stationary analyzing means commonto all record columns which are coordinated in succession with theanalyzing means and adapted to analyze at one time a single column whilethe card is in motion past the analyzing means, sorting mechanismcontrolled by said analyzing means, settable column selecting means.means for causing said column selecting means to be operative during thecoordination of successive record columns with the analyzing means tocause the latter to be selectively responsive to a selected one of saidcard columns at the time the selected record column is coordinated withthe analyzing means, and means under the control of a shift card forautomatically causing a setting of said selecting means for renderingsaid analyzing means responsive to the next card column.

2. In a sorting machine for record cards having a plurality of adjacentrecord columns, wherein characters controlling the machine arerepresented, analyzing means common to all record,

ping the sorting operation, said stopping means being under the controlof said means for rendering the analyzing means responsive to the nextcard column.

3. In a sorting machine for record cards having a plurality of adjacentrecord columns. wherein characters controlling the machine arerepresented, the cards being fed through the machine with the columnstransverse to the feeding direction, stationary analyzing means commonto all record columns and adapted to analyze at one time a singlecolumn, sorting mechanism controlled by said analyzing means, columnselecting means for causing said analyzing means to be selectivelyresponsive to a selected one of said card columns, means under thecontrol of a shift card for automatically rendering said analyzing meansresponsive to the next card column, and ,means adjustable to any desiredcard column for stopping the sorting operation, said stopping meansbeing under the control of said means for rendering the analyzing meansresponsive to the next card column.

4. In a sorting machine for record cards having a plurality of adjacentrecord columns, wherein characters controlling the machine arerepresented, the cards being fed through the machine with the columnstransverse to the feeding direction, stationary analyzing means commonto all record columns and adapted to analyze at one time a single columnwhile the card is in motion past said analyzing means, sorting mechanismcontrolled by said analyzing means, column selecting means for causingsaid analyzing means to be selectively responsive to a selected one ofsaid card columns, means under the control of a shift card forautomatically rendering said analyzing means responsive to the next cardcolumn, and means adjustable to any desired card column for stopping thesorting operation, said stopping means being under the control of saidmeans for rendering the analyzing means responsive to the next cardcolumn.

5. In a ,sorting machine for sorting out during each sorting run onlyone group of records having a selected designation and rejecting duringthe same sorting run all other groups of records having otherdesignations, a reject compartment and a single assorting compartment,sortingr mechanism operable for sorting selected records in saidassorting compartment, analyzing means for analyzing said designationsfor effecting the operation of said sorting mechanism upon analysis ofselected designations, and automatically operated means effective andresponsive to successive sorting runs for causing said sorting mechanismto be responsive to successive selected designations to thereby sort outfor each sorting run a group of records having a selected designationand reject during the same sorting run all other groups of recordshaving other designations, means for selecting any one of the recordcolumns bearing said designations, and means under the control of saidautomatically operated means for automatically rendering said columnselecting means effective for the next record column 'after theassorting of all groups of records.

6. In a sorting machine for sorting out during each sorting run only onegroup of records having a selected designation and rejecting during thesame sorting run all other groups of records having other designations,a reject compartment and a single assorting compartment, sortingmechanism operating for sorting selected records in said assortingcompartment, analyzing means for analyzing said designations While theArecords are in motion past said analyzing means and for eii'ecting theoperation of said sorting mechanism upon analysis of selecteddesignations, and automatically operated means effective and responsiveto successive sorting runs for causing said sorting mechanism to beresponsive to successive selected designations to thereby sort out foreach sorting run a group of records having a selected designation andreject during the same sorting run all other groups of records havingother designations, means for selecting any one of the record columnsbearing said designations, and means under the control of saidautomatically operated means for automatically rendering said columnselecting means effective for the next column after the assorting of allgroups of records.

7. In a sorting machine for sorting out during each sorting run only onegroup of record cards having a selected designation and rejecting duringthe same sorting run all other groups of cards having otherdesignations, the cards being fed through the machine with the columnstransverse to the feeding direction, stationary analyzing means commonto all record columns and adapted to analyze at one time a singlecolumn, a reject compartment and alsingle assorting compartment, sortingmechanism operable for sorting selected records in said assortingcompartment, the analyzing means eiiecting the operation of said sortingmechanism upon analysis of selected designations, and automaticallyoperated means effective and responsive to successive sorting runs forcausing said sorting mechanism to be responsive to successive selecteddesignations to thereby sort out for each sorting run a group of cardshaving a selected designation and reject during the same sorting run allother groups of cards having other designations, column selection meansfor causing said analyzing means to be selectively responsive to aselected one of said card columns, and means under the control of ashift card for automatically rendering said analyzing means responsiveto the next card column.

8. In a sorting machine for record cards having a plurality of recordcolumns, analyzing means adjustable to be selectively responsive to anyselected record column, means under the control of a shift card andadapted to render said analyzing means automatically responsive to thenext card column, means adjustable to the last column to be sorted, saidlast named means being under the control of said column selecting meansand adapted to stop the operation of the machine when the last columnhas been sorted.

9. In a sorting machine for records bearing designations for controllingsorting operations, means for analyzing said designations, means forfeeding said records to said analyzing means in a direction transverseto the direction of the` columns, sorting mechanism controlled by saidanalyzing means, settable column selecting means, means for renderingsaid settable cloumn selecting means operative during the feeding of therecords to said analyzing means to cause the latter to be responsive toa selected record column at the differential time the selected recordcolumn is coordinated therewith, devices for causing said sortingmechanism to be responsive to successive designations in a selectedcolumn during successive sorting runs, and means responsive to thecompletion of sorting runs for each selected column for setting saidselecting means to select a successive record column and to cause thesorting mechanism to be placed under control of said devices.

10. In a sorting machine for records bearing designations forcontrolling sorting operations, means for analyzing said designations,means for feeding said records to said analyzing means in a directiontransverse to the direction of the columns, sorting mechanism controlledby said analyzing means, settable column selecting means, means forrendering said settable column selecting means operative during thefeeding of the records to said analyzing means to cause the latter to beresponsive to a selected record column at the differential time theselected record column is coordinated therewith, devices for causingsaid sorting mechanism to be responsive to successive designations in aselected column during successive sorting runs, and means including acontrol card coordinated with the analyzing means at the completion ofthe last sorting run effected for each selected column for setting saidselecting means to select a successive record column and to cause thesorting mechanism to be placed under control of said devices.

11. In a sorting mechanism for records bearing designations forcontrolling sorting operations, means for analyzing in succession therecord columns of records which are fed in a direction transverse to thedirection of the record columns, column selecting means initiallysettable to select the initial column to be effective to control sortingoperations for causing said sorting mechanism to be responsive to aselected column at the differential time the selected column iscoordinated therewith, automatically operated means for causing. saidselecting means to select the record columns in succession, and a finalsorting control means settable to represent the last column to controlsorting operations for rendering said selecting means ineffective whenthe latter has selected the last record column which is to be effectivefor controlling sorting operations.

12. In a sorting mechanism for records bearing designations forcontrolling sorting operations, means for analyzing in succession therecord columns of records which are fed'in a direction transverse to thedirection ofthe record columns, column selecting means initiallysettable to select the initial column to be effective to control sortingoperations for causing said sorting mechanism to be responsive to aselected column for a plurality of sorting runs at the time the selectedcolumn of each record is coordinated therewith, automatically operatedmeansv including a control card indicating the last sorting run for eachcolumn for causing said selecting means to select the record columns insuccession, and a nal sorting control means settable to represent thelast column to control sorting operations for rendering said selectingmeans ineffective when the latter has selected the last record columnwhich is to be effective for controlling sorting operations. 13. In asorting mechanism for records bearing designations for controllingsorting operations, means for analyzing in succession the record columnsof records which are fed in a direction transverse to the direction ofthe record columns, column selecting means initially settable to selectthe initial column to be effective to control sorting operations forcausing said sorting mechanism to be responsive to a selected column fora plurality of sorting runs at the time the selected column of eachrecord is coordinated therewith, automatically operated means forcausing said selecting means to select the record columns in succession,and a final sorting control means settable to represent the last columnto control sorting operations for rendering said selecting meansineffective when the latter has selected the last record column which isto be effective for controlling sorting operations during a plurality ofsorting runs and to terminate sorting operations. 14. In a sortingmachine for records bearing designations to be sorted for controllingsorting operations, sorting mechanism, analyzing means includingautomatically operated means for rendering said sorting mechanismresponsive to said designations in succession during successive sortingruns, means for initiating the operation of the machine and means formaintaining its con. tinuous operation, means for feeding records to theanalyzing means transverse to the direction of the columns, selectingmeans for rendering the analyzing means responsive to the designationsof a selected record column when the selected column is coordinated withsaid analyzing means, automatically operated means for causing saidselecting means to select the record columns in succession at thecompletion of sorting operations for all the designations of eachcolumn. a final column set-up device, and automatically operated meansunder control of said device and responsive to completion of sortingoperations for the final record column for causing said maintainingmeans to be ineffective and thereby terminate the operation oi' thesorting machine.

MICHAEL MAUL.

